February 2025 News | St Albans FOE

FEBRUARY 2025

News

Ask Kier Starmer to deliver a Big Climate Plan

St Albans District Friends of the Earth is calling on the Prime Minister to deliver a Big Climate Plan for everyone in our District. Will you join us?

In 2008 the UK became the first country to set legally binding national climate targets. That was thanks to the Friends of the Earth Big Ask campaign and the support of huge numbers of people like you.

But fast forward 16 years and we’re still dangerously off track.

The last government's plans to meet our climate targets were found to be unlawful.

We know because Friends of the Earth has exposed the government in court over their inadequate plans. Twice.

The judge has ordered a new climate plan – which Keir Starmer must deliver by May 2025. Will you join us and call for it to be bolder and fairer?

Yes! I'll sign

A Big Climate Plan would see everyone benefit from cheap and reliable energy, warm homes, clean air, widespread public transport, thriving nature and well-paid green jobs. Here in St Albans District our old homes are in urgent need of insulation, our air is polluted by traffic and planes, our green areas are being eroded and our young people struggle to find meaningful employment - we need a Big Climate Plan to help all of this.

But right now there’s a real risk the UK government will fail to deliver – even if it’s legally obliged to write a new plan.

St Albans District Friends of the Earth will be asking our local MPs to deliver our petition signatures to the Prime Minister. Will you add your name?

I'll add my name now

If we come together, we can make sure everyone benefits from the UK meeting its climate targets and no one is left behind.

Thank you for playing your part.

I want a Big Climate Plan

St Albans District Friends of the Earth takes the call for warm homes to Westminster

Members of local campaign group St Albans District Friends of the Earth took part in a special Westminster event on Tuesday (4 February) demanding warm homes for all in St Albans and across the country.

The gathering in Parliament Square, which involved activists from across Friends of the Earth’s network of local groups, saw campaigners coming together to lay hand-made scarves in the shape of the figure ‘55%’ – the percentage of all homes in England and Wales deemed cold, damp and unfit for good health and comfort.

The striking visual was created to draw attention to the dire state of England and Wales’ poorly-insulated housing stock, and the fact that more than half of households continue to be at risk of going cold in winter, particularly while energy bills remain extortionately high.

Members of St Albans District Friends of the Earth took along their community scarves that were created at a series of community crafting sessions. The scarves were emblazoned with heart-felt messages about the energy crisis and the solutions that are needed locally to end the scourge of cold homes in St Albans.

As part of the event, the group was joined by local MP Daisy Cooper, who turned out to support the group’s calls for a robust Warm Homes Plan . According to Friends of the Earth data analysis, there are staggering 21,740 poorly insulated in St Albans – those defined as being below EPC rating C.

The group hopes that having the MP’s weight behind their campaign will help to bolster calls for a credible national plan to ensure no one endures another winter of hardship.

Daisy Cooper MP said:
“I know from my work as the local MP and from working with organisations like the St Albans and District Foodbank, Citizens Advice and others, just how badly cold and damp homes affect people’s physical and mental health. But I’ve also seen how insulating homes can be truly life changing. Badly insulated homes are a disaster for people and the climate, so I’ll keep supporting calls for an emergency home insulation scheme.”

Amanda Yorwerth, Coordinator, at St Albans District Friends of the Earth, said: 
 “It’s been nearly three years since energy prices first sky-rocketed, but far from having returned to 2021 levels, bills are still eye-wateringly high for too many. We simply can’t afford to accept this as the new normal when people are feeling the impacts of the cost of living crisis in every area of their lives.

“The good news is that we have the solutions that can tackle the scourge of cold homes for good, alongside curbing the harmful planet-warming emissions they produce. We just need the government to go much further and faster on what it’s already pledged towards rolling out a national programme of insulation, and that those who need it most are targeted first for support. That’s why we’re delighted that Daisy Cooper MP has said that she will back our cause, and help secure a national Warm Homes Plan that’s as robust and meaningful for communities like ours as it can be.”

Some facts about housing in St. Albans:

An estimated 21,740 homes are energy inefficient (below EPC C). Of these, 5,480 are rented.
Around 6,810 homes are in need of loft insulation, and 6,830 require cavity wall insulation.
42,450 tonnes of CO2 emissions are wasted unnecessarily from homes due to energy inefficiency.
There are 11 “energy crisis hotspots” – neighbourhoods where below-average incomes meet high fuel bills.
The average bill in these hotspots is £1,810.

And finally... Get active on social media

If you've not joined the St. Albans Friends of the Earth Facebook Group yet, then there's no time like the present.

And get on Twitter to find us at @stalbansfoe

If you're really keen, then get some top tips to be really effective on social media here.